Waste hauled for Korea trip

MORE than a week after the Mandaue City Government found out the irregular disposal of plastics in Barangay Tingub, the waste is scheduled to be hauled today to be sent back to Jeju, South Korea.

Verne Enciso, chief of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, said a port management from Korea tapped three trucking companies in Cebu to get the trash and deliver it to Pier 4 in Cebu City.

Officials concerned were supposed to have a meeting at 2 p.m. yesterday.

However, it was rescheduled at 10 a.m. today after no representative of the shipping company from Korea showed up.

Enciso said they will finalize the shipping out of the waste during the meeting this morning.

The M/V Christina, which will bring the waste back to Korea, will be docked in Pier 4.

Enciso said the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) personnel will clear a portion of berthing space in Pier 4 for the vessel to dock.

“Nasa anchorage area siya pero makikita naman (M/V Christina is placed in the anchorage area, but it can be seen) from the port,” he said.

Last Feb. 7, the City Government stopped the operation of a private company in a private lot in Tingub for the alleged irregular disposal of plastic waste from Korea.

The City found out that Envirotech, which was identified as the company that was operating in Tingub, did not have a business permit.

As a result, the Environmental Management Bureau-Central Visayas recommended shipping back the waste to Korea.

Enciso said the problem on berthing space, and the miscommunication of CPA and the port management in Jeju on who will shoulder the expenses for the trucking company caused the delay of removing the waste from Mandaue.

At least 2,000 metric tons or two million kilograms of waste were dumped in Tingub, according to the Bureau of Customs.

Placido Jerusalem, assistant officer-in-charge of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), said Cenro personnel will assist once the hauling of wastes will start to ensure that no trash will be left.

“As soon as possible, mahakot na dapat kay lisod na karon kay uwan-uwan nya mabasa ang basura mosamot kabaho (we want that the wastes will be taken out from Tingub because it has been raining),” he said.